Oscillatory armature relay



Dec. 31, 1946.] E, WEBER 2413,39!

OSCILLATORY ARMATURE RELAY Filed May 29, 1941 M'WJZ Y W M A i TORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 31, 1946 OSCILLATORY ARMATURE RELAY Ernst Weber, Zug,

Switzerland, assignor to Landis & Gyr, A-G., Zug, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Application May 29, 1941, Serial No. 395,832 In Switzerland June 11, 1940 7 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to change-over devices and more particularly to such devices which comprises an oscillatory armature relay.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations, and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawing, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrates one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

It is an object of the present invention to providean electrical change over device for use with multiple tariff meters and the like which is certain in operation; employs a minimum of mechanical parts, and is simple in operation and economical in construction and operation. It is a further object to provide an oscillatory armature relay change over device in which the changing over mechanism is electrically controlled and does not employ step by step mechanism or tilting devices. Another object is the provision of electrically controlled change over mechanism for change over devices of known types which may be easily and economically installed therein. The invention also provides an oscillatory armature relay change over mechanism which is always synchronized with its actuating force.

Fig. l is a front elevation of a change-over relay or electric switch embodying my invention and showing a circuit in which it is arranged.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the relay.

In accordance with the illustrative form of the present invention a change over mechanism comprising an oscillatory armature which is energized at intervals is provided with an auxiliary detent armature controlled by the same field as the oscillatory armature. This auxiliary armature acts on the oscillatory armature in such a manner that after energisation of the relay, by means of a first impulse, it holds the oscillatory armature in the attracted position and after energisation of the relay by means of a second impulse again releases the oscillatory armature and allows it to return to its position of rest. Thetravel and inertia of the oscillatory armature can be such that on energisation of the relay by a short impulse it is moved out of its position of rest through the place of maximum flux density, in which operation on the subsequent falling back of the auxiliary detent armature it is locked and on energisation of the relay by the second impulse it is again released and thus after cessation of the impulse it can no longer be held by the auxiliary detent armature and can return to its position of rest. The oscillatory armature relay is formed so that the oscillatory armature actuates a change-over contactor, which itself from time to time again interrupts the relay current circuit closed from a place of actuation. In order to synchronise the relays which may have fallen out of step, the strength of the first impulse can be made greater than that of the second impuse.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

The oscillatory armature relay consists of an upright magnet coil 3 and field piece 4, the latter having the pole pieces I, 2 projecting outward through a non-magnetic inner supporting plate 4'; and an oscillatory armature 5, an auxiliary detent armature 6 and a change-over switch I mounted on said inner supporting plate and an outer non-magnetic supporting plate 4a secured to the plate 4'. The oscillatory armature 5, which is subject to the torque of a returning spring 3, bears a change-over pin in acting on the central contact 9 of the change-over switch I, and an abutment pin II to engage the end of the auxiliary detent armature B. The two outer contacts l2, l3 of the change-over switch I are in electrical connection with the contacts [4, [5 of a change-over switch I i also having an oscillatory contact It. The switching apparatus is connected to a source of current l8.

In the moving over of the oscillatory contact It of the change-over switch I! by hand or by means of a clock to engage contact l5, the circuit of the coil 4 of the relay is closed. The oscillatory armature 5 is then attracted by the poles I, 2 of the field piece, in which operation by reason of its inertia it passes out beyond the places of maximum flux density. At the same time, the auxiliary detent armature 6 acting as a detent pawl and subject to the pressure of a spring [9, is also attracted by the pole I of the upright magnet 3.

The energlsing current circuit immediately after the attraction of the two armatures 5, 6 is interrupted by the change-over pin l0, since this then releases thecontact 9, so that the latter by the force of its spring 2?} comes on to the contact E3. The oscillatory armature 5 which has come out beyond the places of maximum flux density begins to f all back somewhat immediately after it reaches that position, due to the action of spring 8. In the meantime, the auxiliary detent armature 6 has also fallen away from the pole 1 due to the interruption of the circuit, so that the oscillatory armature 5 by means of the abutment I l is prevented by the auxiliary armature 6 from falling back into the position of rest. In this operation the oscillatory armature 5 is so held by the auxiliary detent armature 5' that it still does not take up the mid position i. e. a position in the places of maximum flux density.

[is soon as the oscillatory contact it of the change-over switch ii is again brought on to the contact Hi, there takes place through the contacts 9, E3 of the change-over device l a closing of the energising current circuit. In this case, there is now first attracted only the auxiliary detent armature 6 by the pole l of the upright magnet 3. The oscillatory armature 5 is thereby released, so that it is attracted and therewith moved back through a short distance into the position of maximum flux density. This small backward movement of the oscillatory armature '5 is sufficient to enable the change-over pin iii to remove I the contact 9 from the contact l3 and to bring it again into engagement with the contact E2. The relay is then again lie-energised and the oscillatory armature 5 can now return to its position of rest, since it can no longer be held by the falling back of the auxiliary detent armature 6,

as the abutment I i already lies behind the edge of the auxiliary detent armature 6.

The movements of the oscillatory armature are employed to effect any desired switching-over motion. Ina multiple-tarifi meter installation on the response of the oscillatory armature the counting mechanism can be changed over from one to theother counting mechanism and this change over maintained by'theauxiliary detent armature. In this operation, the pivotal shaft 2! of the oscillatory armature can be connected to a lever, which acts in a known manner on the change-over pinion of the double tarifi meter mechanism. This arrangement is not shown in the drawing, as it is well known in the art and forms no part of the present invention. Instead of the mechanical change-over an electrical one can obviously be employed It is obvious that the oscillatory armature relay is also directly applicable for purposes other than for changing the tariii.

When the actuating device produces the impulse, the change-over device on the relay is obviously dispensed with. If a whole series of oscillatory armature relays is actuated by the changeover switch, it is advantageous that one osci1latory armature relay with a change-over device shall co-act with the change-over switch, whilst the remaining relays are connected in parallel with this relay and have no change-over devices.

In order that the relay in the event of a single lapse shall again come into step, a resistance 22 is advantageously inserted in the branch conductor between the contacts is and I5, whereby the result is obtained that the first impulse is stronger than, the second. In the first stronger impulse,

the oscillatory armature is attracted and in the second weaker impulse it is released by the auxiliary detent armature. This second weaker impulse is sufficient to lift the auxiliary detent armature and thus release the main armature, but not to bring the oscillatory armature from the position of rest into the locked position, so that synchronisation of the relay is obtained in a simple manner, and thereby any falling out of step of the relay is avoided in practice.

Since in the above described oscillatory armature relay, the changing over and the maintenance thereof take place by means of electrically controlled means, namely an auxiliary detent armature, which does not require any further mechanical means, such as step-by-step mechanism or tilting devices, the certainty of operation of relays of the improved kind is very high. Furthermore, by this means by selective dimensioning of the strengths of the two impulses actuating the relay, a synchronisation of the relay can also be obtained. It is moreover important and advantageous that the oscillatory armature relays heretofore made on mass production lines and therefore inexpensive can be employed without alteration and have solely to be provided in addition with the auxiliary detent armature.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

l. A change-over relay comprising in combination an oscillatory armature to be oscillated by an electrically energized magnetic field from a position of rest to an oscillated position to and through the position of magnetic equilibrium and an auxiliary detent armature normally arranged in detaining position and embodying a unitary element controlled by the magnet field through successive intermittent impulses energizing and deenergizing said field so as-to be first attracted by a first impulse produced field and moved to non-detaining position, then released and allowed to move to detaining position to engage and hold the oscillatory armature in its oscillated position on the interruption of said produced field, and then attracted to non-detaining position by a second impulse produced field to release the armature and finally allowed to move back to its normal detaining position on the interruption of such second field.

2. A changemver relay comprising in combination an oscillatory armature having opposed poles and mounted for oscillation centrally on a horizontal transverse axis in a magnetic field between coacting poles, and energized by intermittent electric impulses to oscillate said armature from its postiion of rest to an oscillated position into and through the position of magnetic equilibrium, and an auxiliary detent armature normally arranged in detaining position and embodying a unitary element controlled by the magnet field through successive intermittent impulses energizing and deenergizing said field so as' to be first attracted by a first impulse produced field and moved to non-detaining position, then released and allowed to move to detaining position to engage and hold the oscillatory armature in its oscillated position on the interruption of said produced field, and then attracted to non-detaining position by a second impulse produced field to release the armature and finally allowed to move back to its normal detaining position on the interruption of such second field.

3. A change-over relay comprising in combination an oscillatory armature having spaced poles and mounted for oscillation centrally on a horizontal transverse axis between coacting poles in a magnetic field energized by intermittent current impulses from a position of rest to an oscillated position into and through the place of maximum flux intensity, a pair of switches to energize said magnetic field when closed actuated by the armature on its opposite movements to close one of said switches when the armature is in the position of rest and the other of said switches when the armature is in the oscillated position, said switches being opened by slight movements of said armature away from said positions, and an auxiliary detent armature controlled by the magnetic field for movements into and out of detaining position and adapted to be moved successively out of detaining position and their back into detaining position to engage and hold the armature in oscillated position after alternate energizations of the magnetic field,

4. A change-over relay comprising in combination a vertically disposed electromagnet having spaced poles, an oscillatory armature having coacting poles and centrally mounted on a horizontal axis for rotary motion between the poles of the magnet from a position of rest out of the position of magnetic equilibrium to an oscillated position to and through said position of magnetic equilibrium, by energizing said magnet in impulses, a pair of switches to energize said magnet when closed, means actuated and carried by said armature to close one of said switches when the armature is in the position of rest and the other of said switches when the armature is in the oscillated position, said switches being opened by slight movement of said armature away from said positions, and an auxiliary detent armature arranged to be attracted by one pole of the magnet and moved to non-detaining position by a first impulse and rendered operative to engage and hold the oscillatory armature beyond the position of magnetic equilibrium after the first impulse and to be attracted and disengaged from the oscillatory armature upon a second impulse and to return to non-detaining position after said second impulse.

5. An electrical switch comprising in combination a vertically disposed electromagnet having upper and lower poles, an oscillatory armature having coacting poles and mounted for oscillation on a horizontal central axis located between the poles of the magnet for movements between initial and thrown positions, a pair of switch contacts, switch members for alternate engagement with and disengagement from said contacts to transmit alternate current impulses to energize the magnet and deenergize the same after each current impulse, means actuated by the armature for moving the switch member alternately into engagement with and disengagement from each contact on preliminary portions of the movements of the armature in opposite directions, and an auxiliary detent magnet arranged in the field of one of the magnet poles so as to be influenced thereby and operative on a first current impulse and its cessation to move respectively from a normal detaining to a nondetaining position and back again to detaining position to engage and hold the armature in thrown position and operative on a second current impulse to move to a non-detaining position to release the armature for retraction and upon the cessation of said second current impulse to move back to its normal detaining position.

6. An electrical switch comprising in combination a vertically disposed electromagnet having upper and lower poles, an oscillatory armature having coacting poles and mounted for oscillation on a central horizontal axis located between the poles of the magnet for movements between initial and thrown positions, a pair of circuit make and break switch contacts, a switch member for alternate engagement with and disengagement from said contacts to transmit alternate current impulses to energize the magnet and deenergize the same after each current impulse, a switch actuating element carried by the armature and oscillating therewith for moving the switch member alternately into engagement with and. disengagement from the respective contacts on preliminary portions of the movements of the oscillatory armature in opposite directions, and a pivotally mounted auxiliary detent magnet arranged in the field of one of the magnet poles so as to be influenced thereby and operative on a first current impulse and its cessation to move respectively from a normal detaining to a nondetaining position and back again to a detaining position to engage and hold the armature in thrown position and operative on a second current impulse to move to a non-detaining position to release the armature for retraction and upon the cessation of said second current impulse to move back to its normal detaining position.

'7. An electrical switch comprising in combination a vertically disposed electromagnet having upper and lower poles, an oscillatory armature having coacting poles and mounted for oscillation on a central horizontal axis located between the poles of the magnet for movements between initial and thrown positions, said arm having a latch projection thereon, a pair of circuit make and break switch contacts, a switch member for alternate engagement with and disengagement from said contacts to transmit alternate current impulses to energize the magnet and deenergize the same after each current impulse, a switch actuating element carried by and oscillating with the armature for moving the switch member alternately into engagement with and disengagement from the respective contacts on preliminary portions of the movements of the oscillatory armature in opposite directions, and a pivotally mounted auxiliary detent armature arranged in the field of one of the magnet poles so as to be influenced thereby and operative on a first current impulse and its cessation to move respectively from a normal detaining to a non-detaining position and back again to detaining position to engage the latch projection on the armature and hold the armature in thrown position and operative on a second current impulse to move to a non-detaining position to release the armature for retraction and upon the cessation of said second current impulse to move back to its normal detaining position.

ERNST WEBER. 

